Really want to get a DSM

[taras]

Hey everyone, I hope i am at a right forum. I dont have a DSM yet but i realy want to get one. I heard a lot of awesome stuff about Talons and Eclipses. Right now i have a 2001 Mercury Cougar MTX with a 2.5 V6. It is not the fastest car so i am realy looking into getting something faster and that has some forced induction. I am looking to spend around two or three grand for my first DSM. I want a 1990 or first gen talon or an eclipse. So my question is what can i expect from a 2500$ DSM? what things should i look for when i will be looking for one, meaning what can be particularly wrong with it?
Thank you much, Taras

 

[lmarinukjr]

If its an awd check the transfer case to see if its leaking. I personally prefer unmolested turbo model. Also try to get a early model 92 or older. it has a 6 bolt flywheel which doesnt suffer from crankwalk.

 

[Eclipse98_RS]

It depends, You could spend a bit more like $3500 and get something pretty solid thats fast as well. Be sure whatever you buy has had the timing belt redone. I dont know if it holds true on 1st gen eclipses, but on the second gens if that goes out your motor is crap. Make sure that there is no rust on major stuff like trunk lid, doors or if it has a sunroof make sure there is no rust close to where it seals. Is this going to be a project car or do you want something thats already done up?

 

[lmarinukjr]

it is the same on the first gen.

 

[taras]

It depends, You could spend a bit more like $3500 and get something pretty solid thats fast as well. Be sure whatever you buy has had the timing belt redone. I dont know if it holds true on 1st gen eclipses, but on the second gens if that goes out your motor is crap. Make sure that there is no rust on major stuff like trunk lid, doors or if it has a sunroof make sure there is no rust close to where it seals. Is this going to be a project car or do you want something thats already done up?

well, what i want to do is to get a car that is in desently good condition and has no major problems like bad tranny or bad motor or too much rust on the majr parts you have mentioned. I dont want to race it tho, just want to have a quick and fun car t drive. So i am not going to put like a 16G turbo or do something like that.

 

[lmarinukjr]

Like i said get a early model 92 or older. Nothing like having crankwalk.

 

[taras]

do you know if anyone in midwest area who is on the frum is selling a good first gen?

 

[lmarinukjr]

check the classifieds on here dsmtalk.com and autotrader

 

[taras]

Thank you much.

 

[taras]

Are first gen dsms pretty reliable cars?

 

[talondude4]

Best thing to do is search the classifieds. You can search them, you just cant post anything on them.

 

[taras]

Another question, why so many dsms have shot trannys? is that becsue people launch the at high revs? Is it hard to rebuild or put in a new tranny? Is the bad clutch a sign of a bad trany too?

 

[exile]

www.dictionary.com

 

[taras]

whats that suppose to mean?

 

[Syndicate13]

Like i said get a early model 92 or older. Nothing like having crankwalk.

Please do not comment on things you have no experience with.

One thing to think about is that any 1G car you buy is going to be at least 13 years old and will probably not be in the best condition. If working on cars is not something you can do yourself beacuse of either time or skill constraints then you may want to rethink buying a DSM. These cars can really nickel and dime you to death, particularly when you have to pay someone else to work on them. There's nothing really special about buying a used DSM apart from other used cars. There will be problems so expect that when you look, I wouldn't go with the mindset that you're going to find a perfectly maintained, 1 owner grandma's car.

 

[Oneavenger]

Please do not comment on things you have no experience with.

One thing to think about is that any 1G car you buy is going to be at least 13 years old and will probably not be in the best condition. If working on cars is not something you can do yourself beacuse of either time or skill constraints then you may want to rethink buying a DSM. These cars can really nickel and dime you to death, particularly when you have to pay someone else to work on them. There's nothing really special about buying a used DSM apart from other used cars. There will be problems so expect that when you look, I wouldn't go with the mindset that you're going to find a perfectly maintained, 1 owner grandma's car.

Exactly, any used car now will require some work to it. It may run perfect for the first week you own it, depending on your driving habits things may or may not break. g/l with your search.

 

[want_a_gsx]

well dsms are high maintenance cars. also, trannys seem to be very fragile. if the previous owners didnt change the tranny fluid plus beat on the car a lot, odds are the tranny got a bit damaged--->new tranny/rebuild

yeah i heard its a pain in the butt to put a tranny in if you arent experienced enough and even if you know what you're doing, the task will take a while.

dsmtrader.com classifieds
http://www.dsmsource.com/classifieds/showcat.php?cat=6

and dsmtuners.com classifieds
http://www.dsmtuners.com/classifieds/showcat.php?cat=2

whatever you do, make sure you read A LOT about dsm's before you buy. learn about all the maintenance that needs to be done and how often. also read about the common problems with dsms that are fixable(caused by normal wear and tear) and major problems caused by beating on the car and also not keeping up with the maintenance.

learn how to do a compression check, and ask the owner of the car if you can do a quick test before buying. TRUST ME, you need to know your stuff before buying one of these cars. i have learned a lot, only after buying a p.o.s. car with a messed up motor. the motor sounded like it was only "idle surge" but now, after i buy the car, it turns out that the motor is screwed (valves are fawked, pistons have holes in them). the more you know, the better questions you can ask the owner and the more information you can get on the condition of the car (asuming that you get to check it out in person).

if you can, test drive a couple of them. you will get the chance to see how a 1g dsm runs if its in good condition. the car that i just bought hit full boost at 5k. now, i had never driven a turbo car or read about it, so i thought it was normal. then i talk to my gearhead buddies, they tell me motor is gone...owner denies knowing of the problem....no refund.

hope this helps and good luck finding a dsm

 

[theycallmedalgo]

hope this helps some man im in the same boat as you http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238710

 

[taras]

Thank you guys very much. This will really help. If you know or will know about someone selling a good DSM send mw an email [email protected]

 

[lmarinukjr]

Please do not comment on things you have no experience with.

One thing to think about is that any 1G car you buy is going to be at least 13 years old and will probably not be in the best condition. If working on cars is not something you can do yourself beacuse of either time or skill constraints then you may want to rethink buying a DSM. These cars can really nickel and dime you to death, particularly when you have to pay someone else to work on them. There's nothing really special about buying a used DSM apart from other used cars. There will be problems so expect that when you look, I wouldn't go with the mindset that you're going to find a perfectly maintained, 1 owner grandma's car.

I've owned 3 7 bolt hunks of crap all with somewhere arround 65,000 miles. 1 first gen 2 2nd gen's all wound up with crankwalk mean while my 1st gen 6bolt has 311,000 on the orginal motor and trans and it still runs like a monster. Just because i dont post on here a lot doesnt mean i dont have experience with it there killer. So mind yours!

 

[Samzer]

Hey, i am also looking at DSMs, now my search has been so troublesome with cars that have gotten away, im just thinking maybe i should just spend way more than i had planned? ($4000) Im not sure if i can wait any longer, any input would be appreciated.

 

[garrett21]

My 2 cents is to go buy a car that has some stuff done to it already and it will save you the time and money. Get it from a guy who knows there stuff and no someone who is full of S**t. It will be cheaper in the long run. So buy from some one that has fixed everthing already and you won't have to. Good luck!!!

 

[AndrewD5418]

Are first gen dsms pretty reliable cars?

They're older, so... no.

2nd gen's tranny's feel better too.

 

[taras]

What year does the 2 gen starts?

 

[talonfreak96]

2Gen starts in 1995